Meet TMU’s new chancellor, Donette Chin-Loy Chang
TMU alumna and benefactor Donette Chin-Loy Chang is installed as the university’s chancellor at fall Convocation. Photo Harry Choi
Donette Chin-Loy Chang (Journalism `78) took up her post as the new chancellor of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) on Oct. 10. The formal ceremony to install her as chancellor took place at the Oct. 15 convocation. A distinguished communications leader, accomplished public affairs strategist, prolific philanthropist, proud alumna and long-term supporter of TMU, Chin-Loy Chang has supported hundreds of students by funding scholarships and initiatives to support their well-being at TMU.
Chin-Loy Chang has established bursaries at the university’s DMZ, The Chang School, and the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. She also created an emergency fund for students during the pandemic and contributed to TMU’s Viola Desmond Awards program and the President’s Awards to Champion Equity campaign.
What drew you to the chancellor role and what are you hoping to accomplish in your tenure?
TMU is my alma mater, so to be chancellor makes this greatly special for me. My role is to be a chancellor, for students and the wider TMU community. I hope to be the ambassador who helps to build and rebuild bridges; to engage new partners and communities and to re-engage some of our friends; to assist the leadership in carrying out the powerful vision of the university, while maintaining our shared values of reconciliation, diversity, inclusion and equity – values for which TMU is renowned.
You've got such an impressive background, spanning many sectors, including everything from journalism to relief work. How will it influence your approach to building bridges?
My journalism education at TMU gave me confidence and honed my skills as a communicator. It armed me to be ‘ready on day one in the wider world.’ Essentially, I am able to put people at ease, to listen to their stories with no judgment and to be compassionate toward them and their causes. Many years ago, the vision that my late husband G. Raymond Chang (chancellor emeritus of TMU) and I had was about community – I’ve continued that work.
It helps also that my heritage is from several worlds, so it is easy for me to span several communities: I'm Jamaican born; of multi-racial heritage. When I look at my philanthropy, with the BlackNorth initiative, Food for the Poor Canada, Onyx Initiative, or my work within TMU on the Anti-Asian Racism Taskforce or the Renaming Committee, these initiatives have all been around justice – race and reconciliation. Together with my friends and colleagues in these spaces, we have reached out to a broader community creating alliances and building bridges.
You mentioned the role is student focused. How do you hope to ensure that TMU students are set up for success in their future careers?
Students are number one, primarily the reason educational institutions exist. TMU’s leadership is building on the university’s extraordinary foundation to further give students and faculty the tools for learning and teaching. Paramount also is the health of students – mental and physical. So we can support them in this realm and understand their needs, for example the Student Wellbeing Centre. The pandemic only exacerbated dozens of already fragile communities – students were one such.
I know many students are struggling in many ways – because I ask about them all the time. But at the end of the day, I would like them to know that we have their back and they will pull through and to understand that great leadership comprises intellect, integrity and above all, kindness, fairness and compassion.
Lightning round
Do you start your day with tea or coffee?
Neither, I’m uncaffeinated! I start my day with a glass of warm lemon water.
What's your go-to comfort food?
Potato chips – Miss Vickie's Original.
How do you unwind after a busy week?
Movies or reading. I am a CrossFit fanatic – my personal record on a sumo deadlift is 183 lbs. Love long walks and of course hot yoga in 110F especially in fall and winter.
What's one book that you think everyone should read?
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, or anything from Malcolm Galdwell
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Toronto Metropolitan University names Donette Chin-Loy Chang as new chancellor